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Gerrry.... This goes back to my comments about how the press, and more importantly, the major PD organizations, sugar coat the severity, and the treatment(s) of the disease in virtually all publications and publicity they present to the general public. Frankly, I believe the media just takes the information almost verbatim from the national PD organizations press releases and regurgitates it all back to the public, which simply reinforces the sugar-coating. The PD orgs. are STILL trying to not SCARE the general public by not REALLY letting them know how potentially terrible the disease can be, and the horrendous tole it takes on the PD sufferer and their loved ones. This is an OLD-FASHIONED approach to presenting a disease to the press and the public. In the PAST this was the common approach. NOW, however, as we approach the 21st century, publicity for most diseases put out by the national organinzations representing them is very blatant, AND very "in your face!" And the public GETS the message! Today's public hears the WORST about EVERYTHING. In fact, they EXPECT to hear the worst! And the HIV/AIDS organizations, plus the cancer groups have obliged by not holding back any punches in their publicity campaigns. And they ARE getting the big bucks for research. These are the diseases that get the majority of public and governmental funding, because the public is NEVER permitted to forget how terrible it is on the individual patients and their families. It's time to STOP sugar-coating publicity about this miserable disease. It's time that the general public AND governments world-wide were made aware of the upcoming PARKINSON'S epidemic which is going to be full blown as "baby boomers" hit their 40s and 50s. The world, as it becomes ever more mechanized in the near future, will be seeing younger and younger people with Parkinson's due to continued industrialization and environmental causes. It's time to be HONEST about PD! The public WILL listen if we will speak out! And remember... it's OK if they don't like us... This Isn't a popularity contest. We want them to KNOW we're here, and that will happen if they know the TRUTH about PD. Barb Mallut (wearing our her soapbox lately) <grin> [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Gerry & Brig Haines <[log in to unmask]> To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]> Date: Saturday, November 28, 1998 5:14 AM Subject: Re: Michael J. Fox articles >Boy, do I agree with you on the Late Mild routine, Brig and I have talked >about brain surgery, he said when he is so bad he cannot function in any way, >then he would consider it because of all the risks. I also had a big problem >with the fact, now MJF can lead a normal life, which the other idiot doctor on >Dateline so quickly said last night. That makes two doctors on national TV >who gave me the impression that all it takes is a quick trip to the hospital, >brain surgery, then a normal life. All the people, who I know, did this as a >last resort and still have a tough time. >Gerry >